Almost 50 and face disintegrating! What now?

[Mountainviewatsunset]

I’ve always had really good skin and looked young for my age. All of a sudden in my late 40’s, I’ve noticed my neck is crepey, eye lids are drooping and I’ve got lots of fine lines ( just caught glimpse of myself in a video)

what’s the best way to tackle this? Is it Botox? Or some kind of chemical peel.

i use all the usual skincare, but any tips on game changing products for menopausal skin appreciated!

I went through menopause last year and it seems to have devastated my face!

I’m the same @Mountainviewatsunset. My wrinkles and creepiness are much more noticeable since losing weight.

I’ve been taking collagen capsules. Also upgraded and changed skincare routine.

Double cleanse, I use the L’Oréal fine flowers cleanser, then the Elemis cleansing balm.
Elemis marine serum, double the drops it says.
L’oreal laser eye cream, I’ve seen a big difference in last two weeks since using this.
Currently looking for a new moisturiser but will probably go with the L’Oréal laser one.

Same routine at night, but use a different moisturiser. The soap and glory pillow one is nice.

I’ve been looking into chemicals but don’t really understand them and am so conscious of using anything that could cause a reaction.

Thanks @Shallysally . I’ve always tried to avoid it, but have seen people look better than ever when they’ve had ‘tweakments’ . But I’m same as you and a bit worried about side effects.

have you found the collagen has made a difference? I used it a few years back and didn’t notice much difference…however, it’s probably improved now

love Elemis- so definitely giving those a try!

Yes I think it has helped. I have these

I've noticed this. 50, aged a lot suddenly.

Shit load of strategic filler. Cheeks and side of jaw.

Yep same here, 52 peri-menopause on HRT. Always looked young but eyelids sagging and whole face seems to have shifted down.

FOREO Bear. Use it twice a day, takes 2 minutes. Don’t buy the serum from them (its’s a fortune!) you can get the same stuff off Amazon for £5.
Gua Sha. Videos on YouTube on how to use it.
if you don’t already, make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning and night. I like Liz Earle cleanser (Aldi dupe is just as good).
Vitamin C serum in the mornings (Medik8 is good)
Liquid Peptides at night (also Medik8)
This Works cream for the décolletage area
Trinny Elevator for the neck
Moisturiser for day with a decent SPF, seperate SPF if you are abroad, decent night cream
Turn Back Time Trinny eye cream
Botox
Profhilo
A shit ton of water. At least 8 pints a day
8 hours sleep (I usually manage 6.5 but I try!)
Clearasil 4 hr for any breakouts from HRT.
Sounds a lot but actually takes 5 minutes morning and night. Admittedly costs quite a lot but I’m pushing 50 and my face is in the same place it was when I was 35.

The Shark led mask.

Retinol - it's the only non invasive treatment that works IMO. But not the stuff you buy from Boots, you need a prescription online. I get mine from Dermatica. Even my DH noticed after a few weeks and he didn't know I was using it!

Coming up to 60 and lost weight. My face has basically collapsed downwards. No amount of creams will replace volume/loss of collagen or stop your muscles pulling your skin down.

I have a good skin routine and use tretinoin prescribed by Skin & Me and also use their moisturiser.

I have botox and cheek filler. They look natural and not at all fake.

It works for me.

I’ll do that. I’ve seen a few people say that retinol is the only active ingredient that works. But didn’t know about prescriptions.
What strength do you use ? Or do you gradually increase?

What difference does it make? And how quickly?

Yes to Botox and filler, the ones who look weird are the ones who go too far. But little bits will keep your face up.

I use 0.05% Tretinoin with a couple of other things mixed in (for hyperpigmentation), but they decide what you need. You do have to upload photos and a detailed history of skin concerns, problems etc, but you can also start/stop whenever you need and there's no hard sell. I noticed a difference within a couple of weeks and it's even reduced some smokers lip lines to barely visible. My sister also commented on how good my skin looked, and a complete stranger thought I was in my late 30's - I'm mid 50's!! If you want a discount here's my referral code: www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/083V4N

The skin on your face has changed because of falling collagen levels.

https://www.mumsnet.com/reviews/shark-cryoglow-led-face-mask-review

https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/gallery/led-face-masks

If you can afford it, then buy the CurrentBody one.

Vogue contributing beauty editor, Lauren Murdoch Smith, also swears by red light therapy for its rejuvenating effects. “10 minutes each day is all you need to brighten, plump and reduce the appearance of wrinkles,” she says.

I also take collagen powder daily, do the double face cleanse and use Skin 1004 spf50 sunscreen every day. I'm much older than you and was recently asked what I use by someone who knows my age as I "don't have any wrinkles".

I did two sessions of botox and then maintain a routine. I will share here if that provides any help:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf
Evening:
Cerave moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

Botox and filler from a good practitioner
I’ve had fractional C02 laser eyes and face which helped crepey ness a lot
I’ve never got on with retinol despite about 9 tries unfortunately

Same here but resigned myself to Botox (not booked it yet), 48 and always had amazing skin until the last 6 months or so, my neck looks so old, lost a lot of weight and it's aged me considerably

Thanks for starting this thread. I’d been dithering over the Foreo Bear for a while so the recommendation upthread has pushed me to buy one, and it’s arriving today!

I think 48 is a real cliff edge. You basically do about a decades ageing in that year. It’s almost like you move into the older age bracket

@narcASD i would add that I think we sat in that bracket before the next cliff edge in your 60’s

I find not looking in the mirror really helps

Not if you’re on hrt, I can really tell a difference in my friends who are on it and who aren’t. Plus if you look after yourself.

If you want to use LED therapy get the dermalux flex if you can. People call the CurrentBody LED mask the “gold standard” largely because it’s cheaper and heavily marketed. Dermalux Flex costs much more, but it’s higher power, clinically validated and used in clinics, so it has stronger biological effects.

The Shark mask sits with CurrentBody — decent consumer option, good value, but not in the same league as Dermalux.

That said, tretinoin matters far more than any LED mask. Botox and filler can also help, but only if used sparingly — no device fixes overdoing injectables.

@Mountainviewatsunset you've absolutely nailed how I'm feeling (and sadly looking)!
it's been the last few weeks that I've really thought bloody hell, I am actually an older woman now! I look so much older too, it's terrifying!